"Indeed, what I have witnessed today lives up to the reputation. So... what do you plan to do with the head of this beast?" Lorne nodded with a smile, expressing goodwill but also revealing a hint of confusion: "Present it to the Master of the White Wolf?"
"This is the oracle of the Master of the White Wolf, so of course, I will offer the beast's head to Him." Laine feigned youth and innocence, curious about what Lorne intended to say: "Since it is my lord's oracle, I, as a White Wolf Knight, must do my utmost to complete it."
A flash of light appeared in Lorne's eyes; he thought there was potential and continued: "Then... after fulfilling the Master of the White Wolf's mission, will the head naturally be delivered to the White Wolf Church?"
"Of course." Laine nodded as if it was obvious.
"And after that? Having taken down such a fearsome Doomsday Bull on behalf of the Master of the White Wolf, the reward must be quite generous." Lorne casually inquired.
"Hmm~ perhaps, though I am not quite sure what I will be rewarded with." Laine thought the real conversation was just starting.
"Is that so? Then, according to standard procedures, what would the Master of the White Wolf reward His White Wolf Knight with?" Lorne, after a glass of red wine, asked with a thick accent and clarity, characteristic of the Mission Knights, as if projecting his voice.
This was typical of the great nobles of the Knight Kingdom, much like the great nobles of the Empire.
"Generally, the matter is archived; the church priests will record and pass it on to the Archbishop of White Wolf City. Archbishop Maras will choose a time to communicate with my lord and, during the Holy Scripture Festival, should there be an oracle, a reward will be granted, and gifts bestowed." This procedure was no secret. In fact, most churches followed this process, so Laine readily spoke: "As for the gifts, they are usually wolf heads or wolf fangs."
"After I slew a Cyclops, I received this plate armor at the Lady's temple." Lorne raised his hand slightly, presenting the plate armor before Laine.
Under the night sky, with starlight and firelight, Laine could only take a brief look. Indeed, the surface of the plate armor shimmered. Even in such harsh weather, it bore no stain. The runes on the armor carried the strong divine power of the Lake Fairy. The beautiful patterns glowed enchantingly in the dark night.
Evidently, this was no ordinary item. It was a piece of plate armor enchanted personally by the Lake Fairy or at least by Her Divine Chosen.
"...Truly not an ordinary item." Laine nodded. An enchanted armor was rare; even the lords of Nord having an enchanted weapon would be considered divine grace from the deities.
But what about this legitimate elder son of the Duke of Connet of the Brittania Kingdom?
He was fully equipped with enchanted items.
"Not as you might think, none of my equipment is inherited from my family." Lorne's eyes carried a hint of amusement, yet his mouth had returned to a neutral expression. He seemed to have discerned what Laine wished to say, so he explained: "It was all bestowed by the Lady."
Oh?! Laine was intrigued.
What rewards can be given without merit? So, Lorne implied that this entire set of enchanted equipment was "exchanged" with the Lake Fairy through battles of blood and death.
Over the years in Nord and as a White Wolf Knight, Laine had some insights.
The White Wolf War God Yurik was not a generous deity; in fact, one could say He was indifferent.
Yurik was a cold, ruthless, and vengeful god. He expected His followers to rely on their own power to be self-reliant and showcase their bravery on the battlefield as a testament of loyalty to Yurik. Compared to those civilized gods, Yurik was savage and cruel, embodying power, glory, and courage. In reality, He demanded nothing more from His followers than power, honor, and courage.
Yurik admired courage, fearlessness, and ferocity, while despising weakness, cowardice, and deceit. This content belongs to novel✦fire.net
However, Yurik remained quite indifferent to His followers. Unlike the God of Justice, who eagerly answered prayers, or the Lake Fairy, who often performed miracles, Yurik responded to the prayers of ordinary believers or villagers with silence.
And towards His church priests or His White Wolf Knights?
He wasn't generous, either.
Considering Laine's actions, Yurik neither explained the opponent's strength nor assisted Him during such formidable adversities, especially when the Doomsday Bull fully evolved into a Four-armed Bull Demon. Under normal circumstances, with an unconquerable foe appearing under a deity's oracle, the deity would rightfully lend help.
But the fact was, Laine did not seek aid, and Yurik did not provide assistance.
Laine didn't ask for help because he understood Yurik. The White Wolf War God not only would not assist him but would even mock his weakness.
So why court humiliation?
If Laine were merely a "simple-minded local", he would regard Yurik as a celestial being, sacred and inviolable. Given an oracle, he would go all out and wouldn't hesitate to risk his life, which would also be normal.